homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl  ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

ˌhä-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl-ē 

ˌhō-

adverb

Synonyms

• bloodthirsty
• bloody
• bloody-minded
• murdering
• murderous
• sanguinary
• sanguine
• sanguineous

Examples of homicidal in a Sentence

court-appointed psychiatrists have described the accused as a sociopath with homicidal tendencies who is a danger to himself and others

Recent Examples on the Web

The city medical examiner’s office ruled his cause of death as homicidal asphyxia or suffocation. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2025

Once again, close allies end up at homicidal loggerheads. —Michael Sragow, Air Mail, 22 Mar. 2025

In sci-fi tales, artificial intelligence often powers all sorts of clever, capable, and occasionally homicidal robots. —Will Knight, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2025

Bex and her team spend each episode tracking down homicidal maniacs. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for homicidal

• fratricidal
• fungicidal
• genocidal
• germicidal
• herbicidal
• intertidal
• suicidal
• apsidal
• subtidal
• bridal
• bridle
• idle

Kids Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl 

ˌhō-mə-

: of, relating to, or having tendencies toward the killing of another person : murderous

homicidally

-ˈsīd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​cid·​al ˌhäm-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl  ˌhō-mə- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide

homicidally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Legal Definition

homicidal

adjective

ho·​mi·​ci·​dal ˌhä-mə-ˈsīd-ᵊl, ˌhō- 

: of, relating to, or tending toward homicide